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In addition, enquiries were made with the PSNI’s training department, which confirmed that if there had been a threat of spitting, the use of a kick was “a poor tactical decision”.

The other three officers denied having seen the kick.

The Police Ombudsman investigator said: “I am satisfied that the man posed no immediate threat to the officers. It was not a vicious kick, but it was nonetheless unjustified and an excessive use of force.”

A file was sent to the Public Prosecution Service, which directed that the officer should not be prosecuted.

However, the investigator considered that the lower evidential threshold for disciplinary action had been reached and recommended that the officer should be disciplined for using excessive force.

The PSNI has since implemented the recommendation and the officer received an appropriate misconduct sanction.